A long-established community organisation, the Riverton Neighbourhood House, has traditionally built community connection through weekly face-to-face activities (e.g. craft circles, English conversation groups, and a monthly shared meal). Over the last 18 months it introduced an ICT-based participation model: a WhatsApp broadcast list for announcements, a Discord server with interest channels (parenting, job-seeking, local history), and a volunteer-run TikTok account promoting events. The organisation reports increased event enquiries and a larger reach beyond Riverton, but some long-term members say the “community feels less personal” and report conflicts and misunderstandings in online channels. A local researcher collected the following information:
Assume the researcher wants to use this information to make a sociological judgment about how ICT is reshaping the experience and definition of community for Riverton Neighbourhood House participants.
c. Assess the extent to which the provided evidence supports the claim that ICT has strengthened community connection at Riverton Neighbourhood House. In your answer, consider both strengths and limitations of the evidence.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Sociology practice question worth 8 marks, testing your understanding of ICT impact on community. It falls under Community in Unit 4: Community, social movements and social change. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In this unit, students explore the ways sociologists have thought about the idea of community and how various types of community are experienced. They examine the relationship between social movements and social change, including the nature, purpose, power, and outcomes of social movements.
Students examine the changing definitions and experiences of community, including the theories of Ferdinand Tonnies and Michel Maffesoli. They analyse factors influencing belonging, the impact of technology, economic, social, political, and geographical factors, and evaluate a specific community experience, considering ethical research methodology.
the impact of information and communications technology
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